Second Kenyan boxer falls, hope rests on bowler

Scotland's Scott Forrest (in red) fights against Kenya's Elly Ochola Ajowi (in blue) during the men’s heavy (91kg) category preliminary boxing match during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Oxenford Studios venue in Gold Coast on April 6, 2018. PHOTO | ADRIAN DENNIS |

What you need to know:

  • Mbugua’s star continued to shine at the Broadbeach Bowls Club.
  • Elly Ajowi was humiliated 5-0 in his heavyweight round of 16 boxing clash with Scotland’s Scott Forrest at the Oxenford Studios.

IN GOLD COAST

As Kenyan boxers continued to receive a pounding at the Commonwealth Games on Friday, some source of joy came from the unlikeliest of sports when Eunice Mbugua remained in contention for a quarter-finals berth in the lawn bowls competition.

Mbugua’s star continued to shine at the Broadbeach Bowls Club as Elly Ajowi was humiliated 5-0 in his heavyweight round of 16 boxing clash with Scotland’s Scott Forrest at the Oxenford Studios.

The judges – Sid Mokretari (Algeria), Jonathan Wolper (USA), Arnagirenthan Vadivel (Singapore), Mark Williams (Wales) and Atsuo Fujikasu (Japan) – were unanimous that the Scotsman outpointed Ajowi 30-26, 30-27, 30-26, 30-27 and 30-26.

Ajowi’s exit follows the early elimination of lightweight Nick Okoth who lost to Trinidad and Tobago’s Michael Alexander on medical technicality on Thursday after a clash of heads left the two boxers requiring stitches.

REMAINED UPBEAT

Mbugua remained upbeat on Friday after winning her third round match of the women’s singles’ section ‘C’ against Nelly Senna of Botswana 21-10.

Although she lost the fourth round match 21-10 to Canada’s Kelly McKerihen, she is still in it with a chance for the quarters depending on her final match against Nooroa Mataio of Cook Islands from 9am local time (2am Kenyan time) on Saturday.

It will then be down to the points tally from the other matches.

“If I win tomorrow (Saturday) then my chances for the quarters will be high,” said Mbugua at the Broadbeach Bowls Club.

“My target is to get a medal here. Despite the challenges the sport faces back home, there is a bright future for the game.”

Interestingly, Mbugua, 31, from Kiambu County, started off as a lawn tennis player before being bitten by the bowling bug at the Limuru Country Club in 2012.

She currently plays at Nairobi Club.

“Whenever I used to pass by the Limuru bowling green, I would get the urge to try out bowling and that’s how I got into the game with one of the top players then, John Gichango, offering to coach me,” she told Nation Sport.

“There is huge potential in bowling in Kenya, but the only problem is that we don’t have a public green and to play, one has to gain membership of a private members’ club,” she explained.

She is one of two Kenyan players in the lawn bowls competition here with Cephas Kimwaki featuring in the men’s singles.

Lawn Bowls results so far:

Thursday: Women’s singles, Section ‘C’, Round 1: Eunice Mbugua (Kenya) beat Catherine Wimp (Papua New Guinea) 21-15; Round 2: Carmen Anderson (Norfolk Island) beat Eunice Mbugua 21-7; Friday: Round 3: Eunice Mbugua beat Nelly Senna (Botswana) 21-10; Round 4: Kelly McKerihen (Canada) beat Eunice Mbugua 21-10.

Boxing results so far:

Thursday: 60kg (lightweight), round of 32: Nick Okoth (Kenya) loses to Michael Alexander (Trinidad and Tobago) on medical grounds after clash of heads and subsequent cut rules Okoth out; Friday: 91kg (heavyweight) round of 16: Elly Ocholla (Kenya) lost to Scott Forrest (Scotland) 5-0

Coming up: Friday: 18:32 (11:32am, Kenyan time): Men’s 46-49kg, round of 16: Matias Hamunyela (Namibia) v Shaffi Hassan (Kenya); 19:17 (12:17pm, Kenyan time): Men’s 75kg, round of 32: Selemani Kidunda (Tanzania) vs Edwin Owuor Okong’o (Kenya)